A sensor arrangement for capacitive detection of an object, including: an electrode arrangement having a heating element as an electrode; a detection device providing a detection signal to a sensor electrode and capacitively detecting the presence of an object near the sensor electrode; a high-side switch connected between a heating power source having a first potential and the heating element; a low-side switch connected between the heating element and a second potential; and a gate controller closing the high-side switch and low-side switch in a heating mode and opening the high-side switch and low-side switch in a detection mode. A decoupling MOSFET is connected between the high-side switch and heating element. The gate controller closes the MOSFET in the heating mode and opens the MOSFET in the detection mode. During the detection mode, the decoupling circuit provides a third potential at a first node between the high-side switch and MOSFET.

Embodiments of the present disclosure a computer-implemented method comprising receiving sensor data from one or more vibration sensors that are embedded within a seat, where the sensor data includes data associated with speech by an occupant of the seat, and at least one of processing, transmitting, or storing the sensor data based on the data associated with the speech.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a system is provided that includes one or more first sensors, one or more second sensors, and a processor. The one or more first sensors are of a first sensor modality configured to obtain first sensor data pertaining to an occupancy status of one or more seats of a vehicle. The one or more second sensors are of a second sensor modality, different from the first sensor modality, configured to obtain second sensor data pertaining to the occupancy status of the one or more seats of the vehicle. The processor is coupled to the one or more first sensors and the one or more second sensors, and is configured to at least facilitate determining the occupancy status of the one or more seats of the vehicle based on a fusion of the first sensor data and the second sensor data.

An ECU device which estimates a length of a lower limb of a seated person who is seated in a vehicle seat is shown. The ECU device includes the following. A thigh angle information obtainer obtains information regarding a thigh angle of the seated person. A back knee angle information obtainer obtains information regarding a back knee angle of the seated person. An estimator estimates the length of the lower limb of the seated person based on the information regarding the thigh angle obtained by the thigh angle information obtainer and information regarding the back knee angle obtained by the back knee angle information obtainer.

Non-contact biological sensors 1, 2 that detect biological information of a person by electromagnetic waves are provided in a seat 10 on which the person sits. The biological sensors 1, 2 are disposed in the seat 10 at positions away from members A1, A2, A3 (22, 32) which are the members, from among the members that constitute the seat 10, that interfere with the passage of electromagnetic waves. The biological sensors each have a first sensor 100 and a second sensor 200 that emit electromagnetic waves of different frequencies towards the person, and the first sensor 100 is disposed adjacent to the second sensor 200. Due to this configuration, it becomes easier to accurately detect biological information.

A method of controlling occupant thermal comfort includes the steps of driving a temperature in a seating zone to a temperature set point (54), holding the temperature set point in the seating zone for a predetermined time (56), and regulating the temperature in the seating zone to a corrected temperature set point based upon an equivalent homogenous temperature relating to vehicle cabin conditions and occupant gender (58).

According to the present disclosure, a drunk driving prevention system including: an alcohol detection unit configured to detect a driver's inebriation through the breath test device provided in a vehicle; a computation unit configured, when the driver is detected to be in a drunk state by the alcohol detection unit, to compute a driving-possible time at which the drunk state is resolved in the future so that driving is possible; and a notification unit configured to output the driving-possible time or whether or not driving is possible through an infotainment system of the vehicle or a driver's terminal is disclosed.

A motor vehicle includes a frame, a first pair of wheels connected to the frame, a second pair of wheels connected to the frame, a motor supported by the frame and operatively connected to at least one of the pair of wheels, a cockpit in the frame, a first seat disposed in the cockpit, a bed in the frame longitudinally rearward of the cockpit, the bed having at least one side wall, a second seat disposed in the bed, the second seat having a seat base and a seat back, the seat back having a storage position and a seating position, and a lateral retention member fixed to the at least one side wall of the bed, at least a portion of the lateral retention member being disposed higher than the seat base and forward of the seat back of the second seat when in the seating position.

A motor vehicle includes a frame, a first pair of wheels connected to the frame, a second pair of wheels connected to the frame, a motor supported by the frame and operatively connected to at least one of the pair of wheels, a cockpit in the frame, a first seat disposed in the cockpit, a bed in the frame longitudinally rearward of the cockpit, the bed having at least one side wall, a second seat disposed in the bed, the second seat having a seat base and a seat back, the seat back having a storage position and a seating position, and a lateral retention member fixed to the at least one side wall of the bed, at least a portion of the lateral retention member being disposed higher than the seat base and forward of the seat back of the second seat when in the seating position.

An illustrative device capable of detecting a bearing force includes a support rigid by tension and at least one plate that is elastically deformable by the bearing force from a bent conformation in which the plate exhibits a convex bearing face on which the bearing force to be detected is directly exerted and to a more flattened conformation in which the convex bearing face is more flattened. The illustrative device further includes a spring capable of permanently straining the plate to its bent conformation, a guiding mechanism mounted on the support and capable of guiding the free distal end of the plate in translation along a translation axis at right angles to the direction of indentation, and a sensor capable of detecting a displacement of the free distal end along the translation axis to detect the bearing force.